Metal chair construction



y 1950 J. B. OCONNOR 2,509,107

METAL CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July 22, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 23, 1950 METAL CHAIR CON STRUCTION John B. O'Connor, Aurora, 111., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application July 22, 1946, Serial No.

Divided and this application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 7,858

6 Claims.

This invention relates toan improved construction for metal chairs, and more particularly to folding metal chairs.

'Ilhis application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 685,427, filed July 22, 1946, now Patent No. 2,458,095, granted January 4, 1949.

Amongthe objects of the present invention is to provide a metal chair wherein the frame members are of channel shape in cross section, and wherein the leg members are joined to, the main frame by means of a rugged, relatively cheap construction.

Yet another object of the invention resides. in providing a folding chair having channel-shaped legs joined tochannel-shaped, portions. of. a frame member by means of a pivotal joint. which is both rugged in construction, cheap in. manufacture and. assembly, and simple and ornamental in appearance These and other objects of invention. will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when. taken. in connection with the accempanym drawing, wher n:

Ei ure. l is a perspective view of a chair made in accordance with the present invention, and showing the legs joined, in the manner of the invention. described herein;

Figure 2 is a view showing the; chair with the legs in f olded condition;

Figure 3.is a side sectional View of a chair. having the rear legs pivotally connected to. the main frame;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view partly insection of the constructionshoWn-in Figure 3, showing the pivotal joint between the rear. legs of the chair and the front channel-shaped frame member; and

Figure, 5 is a section takenv on the line 55 of Figure i.

Referring now to the. drawings, and particularly to, Figures 1, 2. and 3,,v the. chair in general comprisesa main frame, preferably formed from a metal channel bar. In this constructionI prefer to make the main frame of U-shaped construetionso that. the lower parts will provide, two front feet and so that the upper portion thereof may support a back. In any event, the. main frame comprises a pair of opposed, spaced apart, main frame members III which. are channel. or. U-shaped in cross. section, each including; an-intermediate wall or web; member d and-.two:in-: tegral, spaced apartflanges Illa and lilb whichrlieparallel one to. the other and normal to themtermediate wall I011; The. leg. portions; of the:

2, frame members iii are braced by a crossbrace I I whereby the lower ends are rigidified and have no tendency to turn. A pair of substantially'simi'larly shaped but shorter channel bars 12 are provided as rearlegs for the chair. It will be noted that these channel bars are arranged with the opposed flanges [20: and i212 thereof facing inwardly whereby the relatively smooth, fiat, outer walls of the intermediate or Web: portions lrdof the channel bars both face outward-1y so thatthey can be disposed in common planes with webs iiid, ashereinaiter set forth, thereby to im. prove and enhance the appearance: of the chair, and whereby the channel formation of. the leg and frame members may be utilized for providing a simple type. of pivotal connection or intercom nection between the two shorter rear legs. L2: and the opposed frame members ill.

It. will. be: noted; that the: upper portion. of. each of the. rear: legs: I 2; has its flanges. 12a. and i212 cut away and terminating; substantially at the zone; I20, and. that furthermore the intermediate web. portion l-2cl of each of these channel-shaped rear legs projects beyond the zone [20 where the flanges terminate to provide an outwardlyexr tending; tab; which is; rounded. at: its outer end, whereby to provide clearance. upon the; pivotal swinging movement of the; rear legs relative to the main. frame members Hi. The rear shorter legs, i2 are braced bythe cross. brace l4.

Improved. means. is, provided. for. preferably piv- Qtally connecting these rear legs to opposed portions of the-framemembers H1, and'theconstructionof this connection, is: specifically illustrated more clearly in Figures 4 and 5. I

The upper portions of the front frame. members, where they are. joined. together, are pro.- vided with asheetmetal back liand a preferably sheet metal seat. 1.6. is pivotally secured to: the frame by pivots I]... In addition, each. rear cor! her of; the. seat is provided with a projection [B carrying all-1g l9 slidable within one. of the associated channelsof, the rear legs l2. In addi-' tion-, each rear leg, Withinthe channel carries a stopmember 20.. for limiting, the upward move.- mentof. the associated lug therein. The lower ends or thechannelbars; l0, and the. rear legs 12 carry'feet affording, a firm and solidsuppor-t con-.- struction for the chair.

Figures.v 4a and. 5- illustrate; the improyed'. means for. pivotally interconnecting, the: mainframe. or channebmembersi9; to-therear supportingchannel-shaped-legs; I-Z'. To-this;.end; ,a vpair ofibrackets- 25; suitably interconnect. the spaced? frame members: [a ofzthe-mai-n;.f-rame;=withz the rear legs. [.25.

7 Each of these brackets preferably comprises an inner portion 2511 which is preferably of a shape and size snugly to fit between the bottom flange portions Illa and lflb of each of the channel frames II]. In the present instance this inner end portion 251: is shown substantially of rectangular dimensions and it is constructed so as to provide an edge 25! which snugly contacts and lies against the base of the flange ifla so as to prevent the inner end 25a from turning in the channel. The opposite flange lflb of each of the frame members to is cut away to provide a slot 25y which is located somewhat closer to the junction of the intermediate or web portion 10d and flange lDb than it is to the outer edge of this flange [b. Each bracket 25 is secured in place by a rivet 30 or the like and includes an outwardly, or in the present case, rearwardly, projecting extension or free tab 25b, the outer end of which is rounded and centrally perforated. In addition it is to be noted that the plane of this extension or free tab 251) is offset as at 250 from the plane of the inner portion 25a of the bracket. The extension 25b of the bracket passes more or less snugly through the slot 25g of the flange iflb in a direction toward the associated rear leg 12. This extension 25b of each bracket is pivotally connected to the top portion of a rear leg member 12. Figures 4 and 5 show the connection of the upper portion of one frame member Ii! with one rear leg 12, the other connection being identical in construction. In Figures 4 and 5 the topmost portion of the web portion of the rear leg is shown with the projecting rounded tab of the web portion |2d disposed in register with the tab 251) of the bracket member and with the central perforations of the tab 25b and the tab or projecting end of the web portion l2d in register. In addition there is an insert providing extra thickness and comprising a sheet metal piece 20a which likewise is rounded at its top as at 28b to correspond with the curvature of the portions [2d and 25b, and this insert 20a is provided with a. perforation registering with the perforations in the bracket extension or tab 251) and in the upper wall |2d of the'rear leg members. This insert 20a in the present instance extends downwardly between the flanges I21; and 12b and is or sufficient thickness and width snugly to fit between the basal portions of these flanges, whereby to preclude a twisting action between this portion of the insert and the flanges and intermediate wall portion of the associated rear leg member. This insert piece 20a is fastened to the intermediate wall or web portion I211 in any desirable manner, such as by welding or the like. A pivot pin 26 passes through the registering perforations of the bracket extension 25b, the insert 20a, and the upper end of the web portion PM of the rear leg, whereby pivotally to interconnect the associated rear chair leg I2 to the associated front channel member ID. Due to the lateral offset 25c of each bracket 25, when the legs are in closed position the outer faces of the web portions of the rear legs will more accurately align with and be in the same planes as the outer walls of the intermediate walls or webs of the main frame members. This double wall thickness through which the pivotal pin extends likewise provides a connection of increased strength between the bracket 25 and the rear leg. The downwardly extending portion of each insert 280. lies substantially flush against the side flanges of a rear leg l2 to be aligned thereby and held from twisting. This action is 4 similar to that of edge 25 of the inner portion 25a of the bracket aligning against the base of the flange Ilia whereby only forces of shear, as distinguished from forces of rotation, are transmitted. With respect to the bracket 25, the wall surfaces of the slot or cutout in the rear flange [0b of the main frame member 19 further cooperate by engagement with the edges of the bracket passing therethrough to prevent rotation thereof.

In the present construction each extra thickness insert 26a lying between the flanges Ho. and 12b is continued inwardly and downwardly and is formed at its lower end with a downwardly concave arcuate flange, providing the stop 20 for cooperation with one of the lugs l9 hereinbefore described.

It will thus be seen that the bracket 25 provides an extremely simple type of means for flexibly and rigidly attaching the rear legs to the front frame members lil while at the same time permitting the aligning of the outside of each leg with the outside of the adjacent chair frame member ID.

In the present construction the insert providing the stop 26 is also extended to the top of the rear leg, as shown in Figure 4, to provide additional thickness at this point and likewise so that it may be riveted or welded to the top of the leg to make this a positive attachment, thereby making certain that if for any reason a spot weld fails, the stop will still function since it is held in position by rivet 26. Also, in manufacturing, or rather, in assembly, this construction provides an accurate and positive location for the stop 28, making it unnecessary to provide any other means of jigging for location. In one manner of assembling this device I merely register the hole in the insert 20a with the hole in the rear leg 12 and spot weld the insert to the leg I2 so that after assembly the chair cannot fail. That is, the stop will serve the purpose even though the weld may fail to hold.

It is understood, of course, that the insert mem ber 20a need not be formed in such elongated fashion and may not include the stop 20. It is of course understood that the member 201: is usually welded to the channel section, and each rear leg is provided with this same construction;

It is apparent that many widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore it is not intended to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding chair comprising a main frame providing a pair of spaced front legs, and a pair of rear legs respectively secured to the front legs by pivot connections at the upper ends of the rear legs, said front legs and rear legs comprising channel members each including web and flange portions with the rearward flange portion of each front leg having a cut-out portion therethrough, each of said pivot connections comprising a bracket secured to a front leg channel and extending rearwardly through the cutout portion thereof,- the associated rear leg channel having a reinforcing member lying substantially flush with the web portion of the channel and extending downwardly from the upper end thereof a predetermined distance to provide a channel web portion at the upper end of the rear leg channel of increased thickness,

each bracket member and the web of the asso-;

dated -reinforcing member and rear leg channel lacing provided with aligned openings, and a pivot member projecting through said openings and providing a pivot fulcrum between the front and rear channel legs.

2. A metal chair construction comprising a pair of opposed side frames the lower ends of which form two spaced front legs, said side frames having registering opposed spaced portions -'of somewhat -U -shaped section each in-' to cluding an intermediate wall and opposed flanges integral with and disposed in parallelism at right angles to said intermediate wall, a pair of rear leg members having portions of channel-shaped cross section, the channel-shaped portion or 15 each rear leg including an intermediate wall and opposed parallel walls integral with and extending at right angles to said intermediate wall to provide spaced flanges, the upper end of the intermediate wall of each rear leg ex- 2 tending beyond its adjacent flanges to provide a free tab having a central perforation, and a bracket for each side frame having an inner end fitting rather snugly between the spaced flanges and against the intermediate wall of such side frame and with an edge .of the inner end substantially in contact with the -lb&S(-3 of one of the flanges of such side frame, the opposite flange of each such side frame having acutout portion through which the opposite end of the associated bracket projects, said projecting opposite end of each "bracket having a central perforation registering with the central perforation in the associated tab, and pivot pins passing through said registering perforations 55 whereby pivotally 'to interconnect each of the rear legs with said side frames.

3. A metal chair construction comprising opposed frame members connected together and having portions of generally channel-shaped 40 cross section and each including an intermediate wall and opposed spaced apart flanges integral therewith and extending at right angles thereto in parallel relation, the lower portions of said frame members forming front legs for the chair, a pair of rear leg members having portions of generally channel-shaped cross section, the channel-shaped portion of each rear leg including an intermediate wall and opposed flanges integral with and extending in parallelism at right angles to said intermediate wall, the upper portion of the intermediate wall of each such rear leg extending beyond its adjacent opposed flanges to provide a free tab, said free tab having a substantially centralized perforation, and one of the flanges of each of the first mentioned opposed frame members having a slot formed therein, a bracket for each frame member having a relatively broad rectangular inner end portion, the free edge of which is disposed to lie against the base of the flange of such frame member opposite to the slotted flange thereof and with its side face in contact with the inner surface of the intermediate wall of said frame member, each bracket having a narrowerportion extending substantially snugly outwardly through a slot, and said outwardly extending portion being bent out of the plane of said rectangular portion and terminating in a somewhat rounded tab portion having a centralized perforation, means for fastenin each 7 rectangular "portion of the brackets to the intermediate wall of a frame member between the spaced flanges thereof, a reinforcing member of sheet metal having a portion disposed in the upper channel of each of said rear leg members 6 between the flanges thereof and fixed therein, and each such reinforcing member having its upper end projecting beyond said flanges, and abutting the free tab of a bracket, the perfe- 5 ration in each bracket tab being aligned with the perforations in the upper portion of a rear leg member and its reinforcing member, a pivot pin passing through each set of such aligned openings and connecting a rear leg to one of said brackets, and means holding said rear 'leg members in proper spaced relation to bring the outer sides thereof flush with :the outer sides of the-opposed frame members as the chair is placed in a folded condition.

4. A folding chair comprising a pair of spaced front legs and a pair of *rear legs, each of said legs having portions of generally channel-shaped cross section including an intermediate wall and opposed spaced apart parallel flanges integral with the intermediate wall and extending substantially at right angles thereto, one of the flanges of each of said front legs having a slot therein, a bracket for each front leg and hav ing a body portion disposed in the channel pertion of a front leg and in contact with the intermediate =wall thereof and between the two par allel flanges thereof, said body portion of each bracket being shaped substantially to engage said parallel flanges whereby to prevent turning within the flanges of the front legs, each bracket projecting through a slot in the flange of its associated iron-t leg and having a tab projection provided with a central perforation, ga reinforcing member rigidly fastened in the upper portion of ea'chrear leg between the flanges thereof, each reinforcing member lying snugly against the intermediate wall of its associated rear legs with its opposed parallel edges lying substantially between the flanges of such rear leg, means for attaching one of said reinforcing members to the intermediate wall of each rear leg, the upper end of each reinforcing member extending beyond the ends of the flanges of its associated leg and having a central perforation registering with the central perforation of the tab of the adjacent bracket, and pivotal pins passing through the registering perforations and pivotally uniting said rear legs to said front legs.

5. A folding chair comprising a pair of spaced frame members, the lower portions of which form front legs of the chair, said spaced frame members having portions of generally channel-shaped cross section each including an intermediate wall and two spaced apart parallel flanges integral with said intermediate wall and extending at substantially right angles thereto, one of the flanges of each frame member having formed therein a slot lying substantially at the juncture of such flange and the adjacent intermediate wall, a pair of brackets, one for each frame member, each bracket having an inner portion shaped to fit rather snugly against the inner face of an intermediate wall and at the bottoms of and between the parallel side flanges thereof, means for fastening each said bracket member to the intermediate wall of its associated frame member, said bracket member having a portion projecting outwardly through one of said slots and providing an outwardly extending tab disposed laterally out of the plane of that portion of said bracket which lies between the flanges of a frame member, the tab of each bracket being centrally perforated, a pair of rear legs each having a portion of channel-shaped cross section including an intermediate wall and two spaced apart parallel flanges integral with such intermediate wall, said intermediate wall having an upper extension with a central perforation, a reinforcing member rigidly fastened in the upper portion of each rear leg and lying between the flanges and snugly against the intermediate Wall theerof, the upper end of each reinforcing member extending beyond the upper ends of the side flanges of its rear leg and substantially registering with said upper extension and having a central perfration registering with the central perforation of said upper extension and with the central perforation of its adjacent bracket tab, and pivotal pins passing through registering perforations and pivotally uniting said rear legs to said spaced frame members.

6. A folding chair comprising a pair of spaced frame members with the lower portions thereof forming the front legs of the chair and having portions of generally channel-shaped cross section and each including an intermediate wall and two spaced apart parallel flanges integral with said intermediate wall and extending angularly therefrom, one of the flanges of each of said side frame members having formed therein a slot lying substantially at the juncture of such flange and the adjacent intermediate wall, a pair of brackets, one for each frame member, each bracket having an inner portion shaped to fit rather snugly against the inner face of an intermediate wall and with its outer edge lying parallel to and adjacent one of the parallel flanges of the assoicated frame member, means for fastening each bracket to the intermediate wall of its associated frame member, each bracket havin an extension projecting outwardly through an adjacent slot and providing an outwardly extending tab disposed laterally out of the plane of that portion of said bracket which lies between the flanges of the associated frame member, the tab of said bracket being centrally perforated, a pair of rear legs each having a portion of channelshaped cross section including an intermediate wall and two spaced apart parallel flanges integral with the main wall, the intermediate wall of each rear leg having a perforated end projecting upwardly beyond its side flanges, a reinforcing member rigidly fastened in the upper portion of each rear leg between the flanges thereof and lying snugly against the intermediate wall portion thereof, the upper end of each reinforcing member extending beyond the ends of the side flanges of its associated rear leg and substantially registering with the projecting end of such rear leg, the upper end of each reinforcing member having a central perforation registering with the perforations in the adjacent tab and upper end of the associated rear leg, and pivot pins pass! ing through registering perforations for pivotally uniting said rear legs to said spaced frame members.

JOHN B. O'CONNOR.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,331,990 Grover Feb. 24, 1920 2,364,093 OConnor Dec. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 515,076 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1939 611,245 France July 3, 1926 

